Tread-surface for boots and shoes.



J. D. PRINCE.

TREAD SURFACE FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.20, 1913.

L'l Patented May 15, 1917.

TREADSURFACE FOR .'BOOVJS AND S-IZSS,

Specification of Letters fatent,

Application filed Decembero, 1913. Serial No. tl'.

citizen of the `ilnited States, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tread-Surfaces .for Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tread surfaces for boots, shoes and the like, with the object in view of providing such a' surface in which there is combined the resilience of"'rub ber with the wearing and non-slipping qualities of leather.

A practical embodiment represented in thein which` Figure l represents a bottom plan view of the sole and heel of a shoe,

Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section taken in the plane of the line Ahr-i of Fig. l, looking in the direction ofthe arrows,

4 3 represents a bottom plan view of a modified form of heel, and

Fig. l represents a detail vertical section taken in the plane of the line B-B of F ig. 3, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

It is well known that rubber has been utilized for the tread surfaces of boots, shoes and the like in the place of leather, but such use has presented appreciable drawbacks,

of my invention is accompanying drawings,

' for the reason'that the rubber is rapidly worn and rotted under certain conditions; that it presents rather an unsightly appearance; that it is not stiff enough for ordinary service, and, partici'darly in the case of heels; that it has been very diliicult to so fasten the rubber Aonto the shoe that it would not become loose; and further, owing to the Yfact that such rubber heels are exceedingly prone to slip under certain weather conditions.

By Inv invention I have so combined leather and rubber in such a structure that all these difficulties are obviated while a greater wear and ease of walking is obtained than in the case of either leather or rubber.-

In carrying out the invention, l associate layers of leather and rubber and preferably interpose one'layer of rubber between two layers of leather, the whole being vulcanized into-a firmly bonded structure.

Referring to the drawings, the main sole and heel combined of theshoe is denoted by l. The half sole and lower portions of the heel are formed accordingq to this iiwenti and as they are both constructed in the same manner, full description will he given of only one, to wit; the heel portion.

This heel tread comprises an upper layer of leather 2, a lower layer of leather 3 and an interposed layer of rubber i.

It will be noted that the layer 3 of leather is somewhat thicker than the layer 2 and that the layer 4l of rubber is about the same thickness as the layer 3 of leather. rlhis is the relationship which l prefer, but it isl not an essential part of the invention. I also prefer to perforate the llayer of rubber, as denoted at 4*, as this economizes rubber, and tends to make the structure more resilient.

ln forming this heel surface, l preferably proceed as follows: The surfaces of the layers 2 and 3 of leather which are to be placed jacent the rubber layer 4; are either roughened or peeled so as to present a somewhat porous surface. illhe leather is then placed in a chamber containing a solution of vulcanizable rubber compound. After the leather has been placed in this vessel. the same is closed in any desired manner and a vacuum created therein by means of an ordinary suction pump or other means conveniently at the disposal of the operator.

This vacuum will cause the vulcanizable rubber compound to penetrate the layers of leather, particularly cn the sides or surfaces which have been roughcned or peeled. This penetration of the rubber is denoted in F igs. 2 and et of the drawings by the extension of the heavy black lines into the leather layers 2 and 3 as at 5 and 6.

The length of time during which the leather is subjected to this treatment roughly determines the extent of the penetration of the rubber, and when the desired' point has been reached the leather may be removed from the vessel.

The layer of rubberet is preferably formed in the desired thickness and then semi-Aci'ired in any manner well known to the art.

The two surfaces of the layer of rubber 4 are then preferably coated with a rubber cement which canization at a relatively low temperature, and the two surfaces of the leather layers 2, 3, which are to be adjacent the rubber layer l are also coated with similar cement.

After the layers have been thus treated,

into the leather is adapted for a quick vulH prefer not to use a temperature above QG()o I?. during the vulcanization so as to be sure and avoid any deleterious action @.pon the leather.

The composition of the liquid rubber and rubber cement used, with regard to their vulcanizability, and the extent to which the rubber layer has been semicured, should be regulated so that the Whole will be uniformly completely vulcanized at a given time.

The fact that the leather has been partially impregnated with' rubber Will cause an exceedingly firm union of the rubber and leather elements while preserving great iexibility, involving contractibility and e2;- tensibility in structure.

After the article has been thus completed, it may be secured to the heel/vif the shoe in any desired manner, and Ifsuggest the use of nails 7, which are countersunh through the outer layer oil leather Sand the layer of rubber d so that their heads are tush With the inner layer of rubber T he holes through which the nails are counter-sunk may then be plugged with rubber plugs 8 in order to present an unbroken surface.

The nails 7 being thus far countersunk Will not come to the surface until the heel tread has-been almost entirely Worn out, while, at thev saine time, they will firmly hold the tread onto the shoe by reason of their engao'ement With the lz yer of leather 2. It' desired, some anti-slipping devices may be embedded in the outer layer of leather 3, before it is united to the other layers, such, for instance, as U-shaped staples 9. These staples will provide an anti-slipping surface for the heel tread.

It vWill be understood, as stated above, that the half-sole tread is fo ined in the same manner, and it may be secured to the shoe in any desired Way, such, for instance,

as by nailing or sewing.

I have found, in practice, that tread surfaces thus constructed are exceedingly resilient and comfortable, that the leather surface prevents slipping in wet Weather and that the rubber cushion enables the leather surface to yield sothat after Weeks of usage 'the Wear is hardly appreciable.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts Without departing trom the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to specific details except as they are set forth in the claims.

vWha-t I claim is l. A tread for boots and shoes comprising a layer ot' rubber, and a compound layer consisti/ig leather having certain ot' `its surfaces impregnated with rubber, said surface and iwyer of rubber being vulcanized into a .y bonded structure.

2. A tread for boots and shoes comprisn ing layers et leather, each of said layers having certain ott its surfaces roughened and i impregnated with rubber, and, a layer of rubber interposed between said rubber Ainipregnated surfaces, the whole being vulcanized into a firmly bonded structure.

3. A tread for boots and shoes comprising layers of leather, each'of said layen having certain of its surfaces roughened and impregnated with rubber', and a layer of perforated rubber interposed between said rubber impregnated surfaces, the .Whole being vulcanized into a firmly bonded structure.

In testimony that IV claim the foregoing as my invention, have signed my name in presence of two-Witnesses, this third day ot December, 1913 .A i

JOHN l). PRINCE. Witnesses I?. Grenen BARRY, C. S. Sunnennn. 

